Dispatcher Resume Example & Writing Guide
- Why use this dispatcher resume example?
- Which key skills are relevant to a dispatcher resume?
Police stations, firefighter departments, search and rescue teams, hospitals - these institutions and others all rely on dispatchers to send them where they need to go. Professional dispatchers, who receive phone calls from people in trouble and pass them off to the right authorities, can find (or may have to) work at any point in the day or night, and have to be ready to help callers with any number of emergencies or life-threatening scenarios. It goes without saying that dispatcher jobs can be very stressful, especially when disasters or breakdowns in order threaten their community. If you’re interested in finding work as a dispatcher, it’s important your resume shows recruiters you’re willing to tackle the stresses of the job and able to make clear-headed decisions that help the people who contact you.
Why use this dispatcher resume example?
The resume example below is a good template to use if you want to build a dispatcher resume from the ground up. To start with, its summary of qualifications section lets you describe key dispatcher abilities such as problem solving or prioritization in short, digestible statements. The professional experience section also happens to have a very useful layout for describing past dispatcher jobs. This lets you draw a clear distinction between daily responsibilities (described in a paragraph) and moments where you went above and beyond the call of duty (listed in bullet-point).
The most unique part of this dispatcher resume example is the education/credentials/community service section. As the title suggests, this part of the resume doesn’t just describe your educational background but also lets you list certifications and licenses for first aid, telecommunications, suicide intervention, and other vital emergency skills.
Which key skills are relevant to a dispatcher resume?
The bread and butter of a dispatcher’s job is taking emergency calls from people who need help and need said help as soon as possible. To this end, recruiters for dispatcher centers want to see resumes that show off an employee’s compassion and tolerance for stress. Just as important as compassion and stress tolerance, though, is an applicant’s ability to process information and make the right choices as quickly as possible. Because of that, your dispatcher resume should also describe your experience with memorizing procedures and coaxing vital facts from frequently frazzled callers.
Many dispatcher job openings only need candidates to have a high school diploma. In practice, though, college degrees in communications or disaster relief, law enforcement training, or EMT certifications are always good to have on your dispatcher resume.
Recruiters generally want to see dispatcher resumes with professional skills such as
Crisis prioritization
Verbal/written communication
Active listening
Active empathy
Multitasking
Stress/emotion management
Database management
Time management
Problem solving
Summary example
Able to communicate clearly with callers while remaining calm in stressful situations and in fast-paced environments.
Broad knowledge of 911 emergency operations, computer platforms, computer-aided dispatch systems, specialized equipment, and map reading/addressing conventions.
Skilled in exercising a high level of discretion regarding sensitive or confidential issues and good judgment in providing information.
Excellent skills in building and maintaining relationships with individuals and emergency response agencies within the community.
Solid understanding of federal, provincial, and municipal laws pertaining to E-911/Police Operator Dispatch Communications.
Exceptional organization, prioritization, multitasking, and problem solving abilities.
Employment history example
E911 – Police Operator Dispatcher Supervisor for the City of Brandon, Brandon, Ontario 2019 - Present
Direct day-to-day operations within busy Emergency Communications Centre. Supervise five E911/Police Operator Dispatchers responsible for answering 911 emergency calls and dispatching fire and police responders, as well as support agencies. Train employees to make quick, sound, and accurate decisions, often in life-threatening situations. Establish and maintain solid working relationships with outside agencies such as Fire Department Chiefs, RCMP, Hydro, and telephone companies.
Key Contributions:
Provided motivational support, fostered teamwork, and empowered staff.
Demonstrated initiative while exercising discretion and good judgment to best serve community and responder teams.
E911 – Police Operator Dispatcher for the City of Brandon, Brandon, Ontario
2014 -2019
Answered 911 calls and determined whether the situation was a matter for police, fire, ambulance, poison control, or other first responder agencies; subsequently routed calls and gathered pertinent information from callers. Accurately coded emergency calls and entered data into computer-aided dispatch system.
Key Contributions:
Consistently maintained a high level of activity with endurance and effectiveness over long periods of time.
Independently planned, organized, and prioritized workloads leading to the successful introduction of programs in a constantly-changing dynamic environment.
Education example
Associate of Arts, Communication Studies at Brandon Community College, Brandon, Ontario
Skills example
Adaptability
Time Management
Leadership
Ability to Multitask
Communication Skills
Ability to Work Under Pressure
Computer Skills
